Yoga at bedtime? It’s one way to bring out the animal in you

My brain is working overtime while it tries to unravel the past to bring peace to my present.

This process is resulting in vivid dreams, which are leaving me cold and wide-awake while the moon is still shining.

And my dad snoring in the spare room is little to help me settle back to sleep.

It is like sharing a house with a demented elephant.

I mentioned my sleeping plight to a friend, who recommended whisky. Another suggested some serious heart-racing running.

A third friend could not relate at all.

I should have known better than to bother him with this matter because he clocks up about 14 hours a night, claiming it’s because he mends tractors - apparently tinkering with his tools is hard, physical labour.

So I rang a yoga instructor and explained my stressful situation.

I have done yoga before, many years ago, but I felt like I was playing a clumsy form of one-man Twister under the gaze of about 20 yogis who clearly could tell their downward dog from their cat-cow stretch – unlike me.

It was very unsettling so I left the class after one session. I guess perseverance isn’t my thing.

Mr new instructor told me to look at my bedtime breathing patterns before my first session on Wednesday.

So, taking her advice, I discovered that I hold my breath for minutes at a time when my mind wanders into a forest of thoughts.

And it's only when my heart feels like it's leaping out of my chest that I become conscious that I'm perilously close to death.

My yoga teacher has a peaceful, almost ethereal quality about her and her voice sent tingles up my spine.

I lay on the softest mat – complete with pillows, while she wrapped me up in a blanket. It was bliss.

And then she taught me how to breathe and I mean really breathe - no shallow breaths or spluttering, just deep, restorative breaths.

The next thing I knew, she was gently tapping my arm and telling me to open my eyes as I had fallen asleep.

I didn’t feel remotely embarrassed, quite the opposite; I was delighted. Finally, at my great age, I have learnt the key to switching off my crazy brain.

Next week, she is going to teach me a pose or two, and because I am such a fast learner I will be able to demonstrate my own downward dog, happy cat and child pose like a pro.

I will learn the pigeon, cow, camel, sphinx, cobra and peacock while dad continues to work on his elephant.

I always said my home’s a zoo.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here